Spitfire LF Mk.Vb, EP120, G-LFVB - The Fighter Collection

#Spitfire #TheFighterCollection #IWMDuxford #SpitfireEP120 #SupermarineSpitfire # SpitfireCityofWinnipeg The Fighter Collection's Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk.Vb, EP120, G-LFVB, named 'City of Winnipeg', displaying at her IWM Duxford home base. The display begins as a duo with The Fighter Collection's Curtiss P-36 Hawk 75 and finishes as a solo. This Mk.V Spitfire is one of the most credited historic aircraft left anywhere in the world with an impressive 7 confirmed kills. EP120 was built at the Castle Bromwich factory where she was probably test flown by Supermarine's legendary test pilot, Alex Henshaw. She was taken on charge by the Royal Air Force (RAF) in May 1942 with 45 Maintenance Unit (MU) at Kinloss in Scotland. She was assigned to 501 Squadron the following month and scored six of her confirmed kills with Squadron Leader Geoffrey Northcott at the helm. A ground collision saw her returned to Castle Bromwich for repair following which she was allocated to 19 Squadron in Cornwall. In April 1944 she was taken on charge with 402 Squadron ‘City of Winnipeg’ Royal Canadian Air Forcer, coded AE-A, which are the colours she wears today. In June 1944 EP120 went to 33 MU at Lyneham, before moving onto 53 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at Kirton in Lindsey. Following a period as a ground instructional airframe, EP120 served as a gate guard at a number of RAF stations until 1967, when she was used as a static aircraft in the ‘Battle of Britain’ movie. Following her first silver screen experience she was back guarding the gate, at RAF Wattisham, this time until 1989 when she was transported to St. Athan along with the rest of the gate guard Spitfires. EP120 remained in storage at St. Athan until she joined The Fighter Collection fleet in 1993. Following a full restoration, EP120 returned to the skies in September 1995 and has been a regular and popular performer with both the crowds and pilots ever since. Manufacturer: VICKERS SUPERMARINE LTD Type: SPITFIRE LF VB Serial No: CBAF 2403 Year of Manufacture: 1942 Engine: ROLLS-ROYCE MERLIN 55 Propeller: DOWTY ROTOL RS5/RA1976 Video and Audio content is Copyright © High Flight This video and audio material may not be reproduced in any form (except as the videos Youtube embedded video option on any other website), without written permission.